SW Marching Band Equipment & Supplies

Velocity – The New Marching Shoe from Director’s Showcase

admin — Sun, 05 May 2013 16:23:36 +0000

Yet another marching on the market. Yep! We were skeptical at first, but once we received the sample pair, we were highly impressed. DSI really did their homework on this shoe, from the sleek styling to the sole/tread design. Plus we like that the sole is stitched to the upper for added long term durability. Carolina Crown must like them too, because they are going to be marching in these for the 2013 season.

The good news is that these shoes should be shipping any day now. If your band is looking for a solid, mid-level priced shoe, this is definitely worth a look. And don’t forget, Band Directors get a free sample pair if they are looking to switch their band over to the Velocity.

Here are some of the key features:

Thinner soles that are glued and sewn to the Napa upper for strength and durability
Sleeker foot shape -more attractive on the foot
Hidden tread- for a slimmer look
Slimmer, more efficient “toe box”
Perforated side panels for greater air circulation, without changing appearance
Lower profile laces – provides a smoother look and shape
Lower sides - curved at back to accommodate raised, split Achilles support
Tongue stitched in place – will not wander while marching
Water expulsion tread – pushes water away from your feet

Remember, we have one of the widest selections of marching band shoes online. We offer honest and competitive prices. No marketing gimmicks like charging a higher per shoe price, and offering “free” shipping. Plus you get our A+ customer service. What do you have to lose? Call us today!

A Vendor’s Look at WGI 2013

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:36:40 +0000

2012 was my first year exhibiting at the WGI Expo in Dayton, OH. I had such a great time that I decided to come back again 2013. I am happy to report that it was another fun and successful trip. We sold lots and lots of color guard rifles, Ever-Dri gloves, and Excalibur Sabres. Black bolts were unusually popular this year.

The souvenir badge and lanyard giveaway was a HUGE success. 450 of them were gone by lunch Friday. I am kicking myself for not having more available to hand out. We also ran out of catalogs. Six cases to be exact, which is a trade show record for us. I want to personally thank the WGI staff and the wonderful people who stopped by the booth. Congrats to all the groups that competed in the prelims and finals. Just getting to Dayton is an achievement.

I am already working on ideas to make our booth even BETTER for 2014. With all the inventory we bring to sell, the booth seems to be very short on space. There is always the option to upgrade to a bigger booth, but we also want to keep prices down. One possible solution is bringing a 6 foot tall metro shelving on casters (this will help speed up tear down so I can go watch the end of world finals). The table will be moved to the side, so that attendees can step INTO the booth and browse the shelves. The Elite rifles will be pre- classified into three weight categories – light, medium, and heavy. This way we can quickly find the right weight preference for our customers. There are many more ideas, but I won’t bore you with details.

The only downside to having a booth at the Expo is not being able to watch all the great Winter Guards. I get the DVD, but it’s not the same as watching them in person. Next year I have to figure out a way to balance the two. Who wants to fill in for me so I can sneak over to the arena?

Sean Smith

Operations Manager- Smith Walbridge Band Products

Special sale on Pyware upgrades to 7.1!

admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:40:25 +0000

That’s right folks, Pyware 7.1 is coming soon with many new features. On April 1st, Smith Walbridge Band Products is having a 1 day sale for upgrades. Any version of Basic to Pro 7.1 – $413. Any Intermediate to Pro 7.1 – $313. Any Basic to Intermediate -$213. Any Pro to Pro 7.1 -$113. Don’t miss out on your chance to own the best drill design software on the market at a reduced price. Don’t wait, because this sale is for one day only! Visit us online at swbandproducts.com or call us at 877-286-9925. We also offer a Drill Design Workshop. Click here for more details.

Check out some of the features in 7.1:

Unlimited Undo/Redo
- Undo will now reselect performers and open the last tool used
Colored Page Tabs
Audio sync by page
Custom Yard Line Markers
Production Sheet Data can now be displayed in the Real View
Added Time Stamps to Text Boxes
Symbol changes in a drill can now apply uniform and equipment changes in the Real View
Lock/Unlock performers
Copy, Cut and Paste sections of drill
Swap Real View Cameras between main view and picture in picture view
Import/Export Audio Sync
Drop down menu to change field layout from the main window
New Gluestick grouping option
New Sky and Ground Options
Add/Remove Text Box templates from all sets at once
Continuity added to all tools
- Animation re-floats and accounts for curved pathways when overwriting an existing transition
Performer Symbol and Label added to Drillbook Cover

Real View:
- New Venues: Gymnasiums (square and rectangular)
- New Props:
  - Dome, Pyramid (3 and 4 sided), Cone, Torus, Tube
  - Pit Instruments:
    - Accessory rack, Concert Bass Drum, Gong, Marimba, Xylophone, Speakers, Timpani, Vibraphone
- New Dusk and Night skies
- New choices on ground type around venue
- New Visuals:
  - Kneel left/right, lean left/right, open 2nd position
- New Drum Major Hat
- More realistic stride on alternative paces
Coordinate Printouts: easier to understand terms
Localization for Japanese
Import Real View Visuals in Cast List Editor
Console Panel
- 3 sizes (dependant on Tool Palette size in Application Options)
- Added display of smallest stride in addition to largest stride
Default top margin increased on drill chart printouts so information is not cut off by hole punches

Marching Shoes: Some considerations before purchasing

admin — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:28:22 +0000

Performing in comfort is important to the success of a marching band. Therefore selecting the appropriate shoe for your band essential. There are many brands on the market. Smith Walbridge Band Products carries the best. Order online at http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/marching-band-shoes/, call us, or fax in your purchase orders. We are here 7 days a week to help our customers.

• Choosing the brand: We are an authorized dealer for Director’s Showcase, Dinkles, Drillmasters, and Styleplus. These are the most reputable brands on the market. All shoes are in stock and ready to ship.

• Shoe Specifications: Make sure your marching style works with the shoe design. If your band wears spats, select a shoe with a notch in the heel. What type of surface do you march on? Grass, synthetic turf, pavement, all of the above? Be sure the marching shoe sole is designed for those conditions. Specialists are on staff to available to help you select the best shoe. Band directors can get a free sample pair of any brand to evaluate before committing to a purchase.

• Style and color: Select a style that coordinates with your uniform. We carry styles that range from traditional to a more modern athletic type shoe. Black shoes hide dirt and wear and tear, while white shoes will visually accentuate the marching steps from a distance. We also carry marching shoes in black patent, which can also be used with concert uniforms.

• Durability: All of the marching and color guard shoes we carry are designed to last under normal use.

• Budget: We have a wide price range and selection to accommodate your budget. We do not use the “free shipping” gimmick and add excessive shipping costs into the shoe price. We offer the lowest price on the shoes, and charge you what it actually costs us to ship. This saves our customers money, especially on bulk orders. When customers need to return or exchange an item, there are no restocking fees. We are happy to provide a free quote or estimate on a bulk shoe order.

For band programs that require students to purchase their shoes, we can provide a website link for them to order, pay, and have their shipments bundled with other students. This way they split the shipping costs and save money! Call us for more information.

Call us today at 1-877-286-9925 or conveniently order online at www.swbandproducts.com We are committed to providing the cheapest prices with the highest level of customer service.

Below are some of the brands and styles we carry.

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/mtx-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/viper-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/showstopper-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/patent-showstopper.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/drillmasters-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/speedsters-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/super-drillmasters-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/dinkles-the-edge.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/dinkles-the-vanguard.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/dinkles-the-formal.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/styleplus-impact-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/styleplus-pinnacle-marching-shoes.html

http://www.swbandproducts.com/store/styleplus-athletic-marching-shoes.html

Starlite 2 Color Guard Shoes Now Available In Wide Sizes – Smith Walbridge Band Products

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:37:47 +0000

Now available in wide widths

Sometimes it’s hard to find the right sizes for all the nimble feet in your color guard. At Smith Walbridge, we strive to carry and extensive selection of marching band supplies and colorguard accessories. Director’s Showcase Starlite 2 shoes in wide widths have just arrived at the warehouse. No more sizing narrow shoes up to accommodate wide feet. You can now have the right fit for your guard members so they can perform in comfort. Call us or conveniently order online at www.swbandproducts.com for fast delivery at competitive prices.

Don’t forget that we carry NU-Life color spray should you want to customize the color of your shoes to coordinate with your Color Guard uniforms

Concert Wear for Band, Orchestra, and Choir

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:33:10 +0000

Smith Walbridge Band Products offers a full line of concert wear and formal attire for your orchestra, choir, or special event. We carry tuxedos for men and women, as well as dresses, pants, skirts and shirts. We also carry accessories, like colored bowties and cummerbunds, jewelry, over tops, and shoes.

Many of our items are in stock and available to ship right away, but we also offer styles that can be customized or made-to-order. And we know how busy you are, so we are always here to answer questions or help you navigate those size charts! So stop by our website and see what’s new for this season!

Marching Band Shoes at Smith Walbridge Band Products

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:26:59 +0000

Order your marching band shoes from Smith Walbridge, and you won’t just get fast shipping and a fair price – you’ll get great customer service, and your choice of the best brands, like Dinkles, Directors Showcase (DSI), Drillmasters & StylePlus. You can shop for your shoes online at www.swbandproducts.com or call us toll-free at (877) 286-9925.

We offer the same great price to all our customers, no matter what size your order is. And if you are a band director whose students need to order their shoes individually, call us to set your school up with its own “bundling code,” which can save a lot of money on shipping! (All you do is call – we do the work! What a deal!)

Marching Band Shoes and the Free Shipping Myth – How It Can Cost You More

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:41:15 +0000

This time of year, we receive many quote requests for marching shoes. We often get the question “Why don’t you offer free shipping?” The answer is simple- there is no such thing a free shipping in retail. UPS is certainly not going to deliver a box for free. Retailers who offer free shipping are building shipping costs into the product price. In the end, the customer can end up paying more, even though the shipping was “free.” But at Smith Walbridge, our philosophy is simple. We offer the lowest price we can, and charge what it actually costs us to ship it to you. That way you know exactly what you’re paying for. No restrictions, minimum orders, and no restocking fees. Below is an example of how our pricing compares with other stores offering “free” shipping. We are calculating based on a box of 12 Director’s Showcase MTX shoes originating from zip code 61874, and being delivered to Orlando, FL.

Store 1: (12) x 36.95 = $443.40 Shipping = Free TOTAL = $443.40

Store 2: (12) x 37.49 = $449.48 Shipping = Free TOTAL = $449.48

Smith Walbridge Band Products: (12) x 30.95 = $371.40 Shipping = $28.27 TOTAL = $399.67

Even though we charge for shipping, we are still over $45-50 cheaper than these competitors. That “free shipping” is not really free is it? We regret that we had to address this in a public forum, but we felt it was important to explain why we charge for freight and how free shipping is often misleading.

If you have any questions, need a quote, or want to place an order- please call us today at 877-286-9925. You can visit us online at www.swbandproducts.com. Our prices are competitive and the customer service is excellent. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

New Color Guard Uniforms for 2011: The Plex Tunic!

admin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:35:09 +0000

The Plex Tunics from StylePlus are now available! They have gradient printing, creating a “light to dark” effect over microsequins. They come in the 8 sparkling colors seen here, with your choice of black Lycra or black velvet side panels. Matching armbands and scrunchies are available too, and they’re ready to ship in as little as two weeks! Of course, we have all the latest in color guard uniforms and accessories. To order, or for more information, visit www.swbandproducts.com, or call (877) 286-9925.

NU Brights Color Guard Flags are Now Available!

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Outshine your competition with the NU Bright Colorguard flags from StylePlus! These highly reflective metallic flags are m ade to be twice as vibrant as regular metallics. Check out the details here. They come in the 8 colors shown, and can be ready to ship in 72 hours! (Don’t forget to order a pole for it too!) For more information, or to place an order, visit our website at www.swbandproducts.com or call us toll-free at (877) 286-9925.